The European Union has tightened its visa rules for Somali nationals, responding to low cooperation on returning irregular migrants.
A chilly winds of bureaucracy swept through Brussels as the Council announced these restrictive measures following a damning European Commission assessment.
Somalia failed to show adequate progress in taking back its citizens, prompting the EU to deploy its visa policy as leverage.
The diplomatic landscape has shifted overnight, stripping Somali travelers of several long-standing privileges under the new temporary framework.
Member states will no longer issue multiple-entry visas to Somali citizens, ending an era of seamless, repeated travel.
An iron curtain of paperwork has fallen, meaning authorities can no longer waive standard documentation requirements for any applicant.
Even the political elite will feel the squeeze, as exemptions on visa fees for diplomatic and service passports are officially revoked.
Waiting for a visa will now test the patience of travelers, with standard processing times tripling from 15 to 45 days.
European officials describe these stringent barriers as a temporary mechanism designed to incentivize stronger cooperation from the Somali government.
The European Commission will closely monitor the situation, holding the keys to ease restrictions if readmission procedures improve.